Progress
Hop Variety Characteristics and Specifications

Progress Hops: A Traditional British Hop with Gentle Bitterness

Progress hops are a classic English variety developed at Wye College in the 1950s. They work well as a replacement for Fuggle, offering similar characteristics with improved agronomic performance. Over the years, Progress hops have become valued for their smooth bitterness and delicate aromatic notes.

Brewing Characteristics of Progress Hops

The Progress hop provides a soft bitterness that integrates well into a wide range of traditional British beer styles. Typically, it showcases notes of grass, honey, and a mild spice edge. Some brewers also detect subtle herbal tones from the beer, which contribute to a rounded hop profile. These characteristics make Progress hops suitable for bitters, porters, and mild ales.

Although it has moderate alpha acids, usually around 5% to 8%, it can be used in both bittering and aroma additions. In lighter beer styles, the Progress hop variety offers a gentle, structured base without overshadowing malt elements. When added late in the boil, it provides a mellow, balanced hop character.

Why Brewers Use Progress Hops

Progress hops are often chosen for their dependability in traditional recipes. They complement English base malts extremely well and work harmoniously in session-strength beers. As a result, Progress hops are often used in cask ales where subtlety and smoothness are key.

Moreover, the hop’s stability and consistency in processing make it attractive to commercial brewers. Yields are dependable, and the cones dry well, which helps maintain quality through storage and transport.

Additionally, Progress hops perform well when combined with more assertive varieties. They can round out the bitterness in stronger hop-forward beers or bring balance to complex grain bills.

Beers made with Progress Hops:

St Austell – Hicks Beer

Milestone Brewery – Loxley Ale